title: The effects of resistance exercise training on body composition and strength in obese prepubertal children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of resistance exercise training on body composition and muscular strength in obese prepubertal children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants, who were between the ages of 8 and 12 years, met Tanner I (stage) criteria, had a body mass index ≥ 95th percentile for age and sex, were randomized to either high-repetition, moderate-intensity resistance training (n = 12) or to the non-intervention control group (n = 7) for 12 weeks. Exercise training was performed twice a week for 75 minutes per session. Body composition was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and muscular strength was evaluated using a 1-repetition-maximum test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exercise-group participants attended 98% of the 24 total sessions and showed a significant increase in body weight (57.6± 13.5 vs 59.6± 14.1 kg), height (144.9± 9 vs 146.6± 10.4 cm), lean body mass (32.6± 6.8 vs 34.0± 7.0 kg), lean body mass index (lean body mass in kg/height2; 15.3± 1.6 vs 15.6± 1.5 kg/m2), arm strength (28.4± 5.8 vs 31.2± 6.0 kg), and leg strength (89.4± 31.7 vs 113.4± 34 2 kg) from baseline measures (P < 0.05). Control group participants also showed significant increases in weight, height, and lean body mass from baseline measures (P < 0.05) but not in arm or leg strength. When the changes in participant body composition and muscular strength were compared between the exercise and control groups, significant differences were found in leg lean mass and leg strength (P < 0.05). There were no changes in percent body fat and fat mass index [FM/height2(kg/m2)] in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resistance training increases leg lean mass and leg strength in obese prepubertal youth and may have a positive effect on overall physical activity and health.
authors.affiliation: Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Angela S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alberga
authors.forename: Biagina-Carla
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Farnesi
authors.forename: Angele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lafleche
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Legault
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Komorowski
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011379:Prognosis; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*